Empoli vs Palermo preview - No panic for Zamparini

Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini is refusing to panic even though his team goes into Sunday's match at Empoli without a win this season and lying 19th in the Serie A standings.

The Sicilians have collected just three points from five games and lost 4-0 at home to Lazio on Monday.

That defeat increased speculation that Palermo could make a coaching change and sack manager Giuseppe Iachini.

However, Zamparini said: "Iachini is not at risk.

"Sometimes you lose, and badly, but that doesn't mean that the coach risks his job.

"Things didn't go well for us against Lazio but I have to say that the refereeing was awful.

"According to my coach we should have been awarded two penalties and had we gone into the break with the lead, no-one would have been surprised."

Iachini, who joined Palermo in September 2013 and led the team to finish top of Serie B last season, hopes his side can bounce back immediately.

"The important thing is to put that defeat behind us," he said. "We need to work on the things we did badly and improve.

"We have to show more focus and limit our mistakes."

Empoli are also winless after five games and are level on three points with Palermo.

The Tuscan outfit, who also gained promotion to Italy's top flight earlier this year, followed their 2-2 draw against AC Milan with a 1-1 result against Chievo in Verona last time out.

"We have the right fighting spirit to do well," Empoli striker Massimo Maccarone said. "We are on the right path.

"We must give continuity to our performances because this is the best way to achieve our first win this season."

Empoli coach Maurizio Sarri will have all of his players available, with the exception of Italian midfielder Mirko Valdifiori, who is suspended.

Palermo travel to the Carlo Castellani stadium without injured defender Giancarlo Gonzalez.